diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index a9f48a317..4fb9f9acd 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -411,8 +411,9 @@ def __call__(self, filename):
 # see http://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/extdev/appapi.html
 #
 
+# paths to modules to be excluded by apidoc when generating rst files
 apidoc_exclude = [
-    "../../src/pynwb/retinotopy.py",
+    "../../src/pynwb/retinotopy",
 ]
 
 def run_apidoc(_):